The British Embassy in Dubai has a vacancy for an Intellectual Property (IP) Attaché, MENA region, job grade SEO for a fixed-term contract for two (2) years. The jobholder will be working for the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and situated in the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is the official UK government body responsible for intellectual property (IP) rights including patents, trademarks, designs and copyright. The IPO is an executive agency sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). IPO is responsible for: IP policy; educating businesses and consumers about IP rights and responsibilities; supporting IP enforcement, and; granting UK patents, trade marks and design rights.

The IPO operates and maintain a clear and accessible intellectual property system in the UK, which encourages innovation and helps the economy and society to benefit from knowledge and ideas. The IPO is now a team of approximately 1,700, with offices in South Wales (Newport) and London. The IPO Strategy and Corporate Priorities are helping the UK to become the most innovative and creative country in the world.

As IP rights are territorial, UK exporting businessess need help in navigating the in-market IP regime, which can be complex. Since 2012, the IPO has a network of IP attaches in key markets across the world, including China, Latin America, North America, India, SE Asia. The attaches work with local UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) leads, to provide support for UK businesses seeking advice on local IP matters. Attaches also raise awareness of IP through business outreach. This includes briefing business delegations, joint webinars with DBT and local trade associations. They also liaise with host governments and stakeholders about local and international IP frameworks / environment.

The IPO is looking for a highly capable individual to deliver a high standard of support to UK businesses looking to enter, or expand their presence, in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

This is a senior role and the successful candidate, as the IPO’s lead representative and technical expert in MENA, will be responsible for setting strategy and delivering policy objectives, as well as providing business support. The role will involve working closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including HMG, regional government departments and official agencies across the MENA region as well as UK businesses, balancing sometimes opposing interests with tact and sensitivity. The jobholder will also be involved in future IP content in trade agreements.

The role will mean being the MENA British Embassy network lead technical expert on IP, delivering IP policy objectives, supporting UK businesses exporting to the region, and promoting the UK’s IP agenda. The role will also involve working across the DBT teams in the MENA, offering support in resolving IP related enquires, regardless of sector.  We need to be agile and align our activities to priorities of both the UK and MENA, as those change, so too will our focus.

This position will see you exposed to senior government officials and CEOs of large companies and, therefore, strong communication skills and a high level of resilience and persistence are essential, alongside excellent drafting skills and the ability to turn round work quickly and under pressure. Demonstrable experience of creating and administering strategic partnerships is highly desirable, as well as achievement of direct commercial outcomes. We are target driven, so demonstrable experience in achieving successful outcomes will be key.

The job holder will be required to have excellent knowledge of IP, including an IP qualification and/ or extensive experience working in an IP intensive environment.  Private sector experience and understanding of the MENA ecosystem would also be advantageous. The job holder will be required to represent the IPO across all aspects of the role including public speaking and representing the government at a senior level, providing advice to the Ambassador and Regional Trade Commissioner in addition to visiting Ministers, senior DBT officials and IPO seniors.

Due to the international nature of the role, the successful candidate will be expected to travel within the MENA region, sometimes at short notice and to the UK.  The requirements of the job may necessitate some work outside of core hours, for example for meetings, official business entertainment/representational duties and Ministerial visits.

The jobholder will also be expected to support and collaborate with colleagues across the region, particularly when they are visiting for major trade shows/meetings/ events etc. They will need strong engagement with the UK based MENA team at the IPO to align focus, effort and skills.

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Be the UK IPO’s representative in the MENA region (based in UAE) with support from the FCDO network in the region and the UK based IPO team.
• Act as the embassy’s lead technical expert on IP, developing and delivering IP policy and enforcement programme, and promoting the value of IP (including awareness raising and education) and identifying local IP issues.
• Lead on delivering the UK’s engagement, strategic policy objectives, projects and stakeholder events on all IP matters, in a dynamic region.
• Develop and execute plans to support UK exporting businesses in MENA and assist with specific IP issues when they arise.
• Assess opportunities within DBT teams in MENA to include IP within guidance as part of teams export support, to eliminate IP related market access barriers.
• Lead on Government-to-Government activity (including regional IP offices), such as Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and policy development. Develop strategic cooperation between the UK and MENA, pulling on support from local and UK based colleagues when required.
• Demonstrate proactive business development in order to maintain, build and develop strategic contacts with key stakeholders (both public and private) in the market, to identify new opportunities as they arise and promote existing opportunities to showcase the UKs position on IP.
• Effective stakeholder engagement to build and manage effective working relationships with senior leaders in MENA, colleagues across DBT including International Trade Advisers and Sector teams to increase their knowledge of IP activity in the market.
• Develop partnerships with DBT regional offices, DBT Sectors Group, Chambers of Commerce, Trade Associations and IP organisations, including attending networking events in and out of hours.
• Input into the preparation of annual business plans and strategies for the sector and regularly update sector reports.
• Make presentations at seminars and events in MENA and UK and contribute to in-market briefings to promote UK expertise in the sector.
• Devise and run VIP programmes for Ministers and senior IPO staff visits through scheduling high-level meetings, organising activities, and preparing briefing materials.

Engaging Internationally:

• Lead internationally, engaging our staff, contacts, and international partners to help deliver UK Government objectives, while living the UK Civil Service values and serving the UK public.
• Understand UK Government aims in the wider UK and international context and developing productive relationships with those external contacts and partners to help deliver UK objectives.
• Be aware of cultural sensitivities in your area of responsibility.
• Value and model professional excellence and expertise.

The above list is not exhaustive, and the jobholder will be required to be flexible and take on other ad hoc tasks as required.

Key behaviours required:

• Seeing the bigger picture – Understand how your role fits with and supports organisational objectives. Recognise the wider Civil Service priorities and ensure work is in the national interest.
• Communicating and Influencing – Communicate purpose and direction with clarity, integrity, and enthusiasm. Respect the needs, responses, and opinions of others.
• Working Together – Form effective partnerships and relationships with people both internally and externally, from a range of diverse backgrounds, sharing information, resources, and support.
• Changing and Improving: Seek out opportunities to create effective change and suggest innovative ideas for improvement. Review ways of working, including seeking and providing feedback.
• Delivering at Pace: Take responsibility for delivering timely and quality results with focus and drive.
• Managing a Quality Service: Deliver service objectives with professional excellence, expertise and efficiency, taking account of diverse customer needs.

• Minimum 5-10 years demonstrated professional experience in a business development and/or economic development role – either in private sector or government.
• Understanding of practical applications of IP in trade, business and innovation and HMG strategy.
• Experience of working in the MENA region.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to influence and network confidently with industry leaders, government officials, and senior business people.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both verbal and spoken. Able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• Ability to effectively work under tight deadlines and in a fast paced environment.
• Experience of working with senior level interlocutors.
• Experience of brief writing and public speaking.
• Stakeholder engagement across all levels.
• Resourcefulness in solving problems.
• Team player with experience in working in large, complex environments and a willingness to work across boundaries.
• Strong work ethic, organisational skills and keen attention to detail.
• Excellent computer & MS Office skills (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams).
• Superior professionalism and judgment.
• Experience of working in complex, matrix organisations.
• Ability to draft succinct reports and provide briefing for generalist and specialist audiences, including for ministers, often to very tight deadlines.
• Delivery of high-quality day-to-day data management.